What about retrievers? In none of your pictures is the dog chasing a ball. I will fight tooth and nail to retain that simple pleasure for Jake.

I've been thinking about this today, especially when I was walking my dogs, everytime I walk them we have to pass a large dog, bull mastiff cross Rottie, who was brought for a gaurd dog for the owners bikes, this dog use to be walked for about twenty minutes a day and was friendly to both dogs and people, his walks have now stopped, everytime I walk past him I do wonder whether he will break out, as he is showing signs of severe boundry aggression, to both dogs and people walking past, including children, the dog is always in the garden, and every now and then you hear something like 'shut the **** up' to the dog when your walking past, you never see anyone in the garden, and if he wanted to jump I'm sure he would, and I'm also sure that he would attack, although I'm not sure whether it would be dogs, cats or people that he does, as each one gets a equally aggressive reaction walking past, a law like dogs wearing muzzles might mean that in cases like this the dog owner actually gets done when a dog hurts another one, and it would be easier to be brought to court, and a law like this might really only affect those with dangerous dogs, well hopefully. But apart from that I have some pics of mine in muzzles, to show that they are not bothered, and IMO if someone assumes that a dog is dangerous just because they are wearing a muzzle then that person does not understand dogs, body language gives a much better indicator.


With the right type of muzzles a dog can still pant no problem, the fabric ones are at best useless, at worse dangerous, as dogs can still bite through them, but also can't pant in the properly, so it can cause the to over heat, which espcailly in the summer could be very dangerous.


Can still play with children,


Can still drink,


Can still run and have a good time


And again can still be a childs friend.

So I don't think that a law of this type would be the be all and end all for dogs and their owners, I do believe that owners will be more upset about it then dogs, but that they will adapt eventually, and I also believe that dog owners are currently lucky as to all the places that we have to walk our dogs, I will not be the biggest fan of muzzled dogs, but if dogs end up in rescues because of having to wear muzzles then are they the best owners to begin with that they would dump their pets for such a reason? And there is plenty of private areas where dogs can be walked that their owners get permission from land owners to walk their dogs, and being private land the dogs shouldn't have to be muzzled if such a thing passed, and people who worry about their dogs natural behavior i.e. retrievers could still have the choice to go to these areas, but tbh I don't see this rule being inforced, but it could be mentioned in dog attacks to other animals and people, as the owner would then be breaking the law, and even if its dog on dog the aggresior should still be prosaqueted for breaking at least one law

I personally don't have a problem with the muzzle themselves. As you say, most dogs will adapt to wearing them. But to me it is the principal I'm against...the idea that the anti-dog bandwagon have won yet again. The majority of dogs in this country are good tempered and will not bite a person in their lifetime. I don't see why all the good natured, well trained dogs should be punished for a crime that they are highly unlikely to ever commit.

I am pretty sure that most dog attacks occur on private property (peoples homes) anyway. All the fatal attacks of the last few years that I can think of have. So again, what will muzzling dogs in public places do? the irresponsible individuals who's dogs are aggressive will be the ones who do NOT muzzle their dogs, therefore I don't think a reduction in attacks in public places will be seen at all. Basically, if this ever did come to force, it would be yet another failure of legislation.

I don't think anyone has answered my query about whether wearing muzzles would have any effect on how normal, friendly, sociable dogs interact with one another?

I don't think anyone has answered my query about whether wearing muzzles would have any effect on how normal, friendly, sociable dogs interact with one another?